I don't own anything. J.K Rowling does.
WARNING: Mature themes brought up so if you are less than 18 and / or easily triggered by mature content DO NOT READ THIS STORY. You have been warned.
A/N: Hey guys. Chapter 10. Never would I have imagined a month ago that I would have so many positive feedbacks on a work of my own. It is overwhelming. Every like/follows reviews means a lot to me. I asked myself what I wanted to do for this chapter and I think that what I have come up with isn't too bad. Hope you will like it.
Have a great time reading and as always, don't forget to follow, like and/or review.
Good reading! J1974
Chapter 10
The day of their departure to Godric's Hollow had come. Harry had progressed nicely in the learning of the charms and could nearly cast them silently. Hermione could now cast them wordlessly and windlessly. They both woke up in the early morning and took a consistent breakfast and lunch. They rehearsed the plan 3 times and verified 5 times they had everything they needed. At 6 p.m., the sun had already set and the both of them Apparated in front of St. Jerome. The ground was covered in thick snow and a soft breeze blew. They saw a dozen of people entering the church. They looked at each other puzzled. Then, Hermione understood. It was Christmas Eve and there was a mass in the church. "Merry Christmas Harry" Hermione said "Merry Christmas Hermione" he said too.
She would have loved to hear those words from Severus, but she couldn't, she quickly shook the thought away as she knew she would cry if she thought too much about him. She looked at Harry and went towards the graveyard holding his hand to reassure him. They went through the graves, recognising some names. Dumbledore, Peverell and last but not least, Potter. Harry kneeled on the grave. Hermione didn't know what to do to relief the pain her friend was experiencing. She conjured up some beautiful white lilies surrounding at least a dozen of Christmas roses. She gave them to Harry and he placed them on the grave. When he rose to his feet, Hermione casted a quick drying charm on him because the snow had melted on his knees and they were now wet.
They then saw a figure standing in the night. It looked like a pile of rag more than a human. They approached the figure and when Hermione recognised the woman, she lowered Harry's wand with her own hand. "Mrs. Bagshot. Good evening, my name is Hermione Granger and I would like to ask you if you have any information about Godric's Gryffindor sword?" she asked in the politest way she could. She couldn't hear her response. But she saw Harry look at her and saw both of their mouths moving. They were speaking Parseltongue. She then saw the pair of them beginning to leave the graveyard. They were both heading towards a little cottage. She followed them closely refusing to let Harry alone. She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling about it all.
A few minutes later, they were inside the cottage. Bathilda had served them some cold tea and a few rock-hard biscuits. The woman then stared at them and began convulsing. In a flash, the old woman had transformed into a snake. "Harry, run, now!" Hermione shouted as the snake headed for the pair of them. They both climbed to the first story of the cottage. They found themselves in a child room. Hermione was pushed back by some kind of spell to another bedroom and watched as Harry hit the snake repeatedly on the head with a brick. When Harry managed to stun for a few seconds the serpent, he ran to where Hermione was. Both of them stood on their guards. Suddenly, the snake jumped towards them "Confringo!" shouted Hermione. With that, they both Apparated away blasting the window as they did so
"Hermione, are you alright?" Harry asked. Hermione didn't immediately answer. Instead, she looked at him with a look of pity. "Hermione, what's going on?" Harry asked once again. "I'm so sorry Harry." She said in a frail voice. "What happened Hermione?" he asked rushing towards her. "It's your wand Harry, it's broken. I casted a curse and it rebounded breaking it. I am so sorry. I tried to mend it but…" She replied showing at Harry what was left of his wand. "Give me your wand and the locket and go inside warm yourself. Now!" he shouted at her. Hermione gave him her vine wood wand and rushed inside the tent crying. Harry immediately regretted speaking to her that way. Without a second thought, he picked up the pieces of wood that once had been his wand and followed Hermione inside the tent. He placed the broken wand on the table and went towards her. "I'm sorry Hermione, I shouldn't have talked to you like that. I know that the past few days have been hard on you. I'm sorry 'Mione." He said rubbing her back tenderly. "It's alright Harry, you have the right to be upset too. We have to get you a new wand. But how? Olivander is closed now and I don't know how we can get you a new wand in such a short amount of time." She said. "I don't know either 'Mione, I just know that I am tired and I need to sleep now. Do you want anything to eat before?" he asked wanting her to rest. "No, I am fine thanks. I think I'm going to go to bed too. Bye Harry, have a good night." She replied "Have a good night Hermione." With that she went to bed and the second her head was on her pillow, she went into a dreamless sleep.
A few hours later, she was awoken by a big black owl who came inside the tent. The owl came to her and softly nipped on her finger. She looked at the paw of the bird and saw a small slip of parchment dangling from it. She took it and the owl awaited while she read the letter
My dear Hermione,
Last night, we were all called by Voldemort's side. He told us that you and Mr. Potter were seen in Godric's Hollows. He told us that he knew you would be coming at one point or another and had killed Bathilda Bagshot before placing Nagini inside of her. He told us that Nagini had managed to lure the both of you into Bathilda's cottage but unfortunately, you had escaped before he had the time to come and kill you both. I wanted to warn you that he has now a price on your head. Before you were just another Muggleborn now you will like Harry be hunted down.
I fear for your life my love. I want to hold you against me. I want to feel your heart beating under your chest.
Meet me at Hogsmeade on New Year's Eve. Just drink this Polyjuice Potion and Apparate in front of the Hog's Head Inn. The effect of the Potion will last one hour. It will be long enough for you to find me and to enter the Inn. I hope to see you there.
Your most obliged,
Severus Snape
When Hermione finished the letter, she looked again at the paws of the animal and saw a tiny flask dangling from it. She took it and recognised Severus' writing. She teared in joy. She was going to see Severus on New Year's Eve. She took a piece of parchment and looked for something to write on. She found an old quill and a tiny flask of ink. She opened it and began writing furiously on the piece of paper too impatient to see him.
My dear, sweet Severus,
I am so glad and impatient to see you again. We did indeed go to Godric's Hollow. Harry visited his parent's tomb and then you know the rest. I have received your Polyjuice potion and have stored it in a safe place. Do not fear for my life my love. I am safe while in the tent and I won't be leaving it until my visit to Hogsmeade. I miss you every second since I left you in this office. I would also want to hold you and be close to you but for the moment it is impossible and the only thing we can do is wait for this happy day where we'll vanquish Voldemort. I just wanted you to know that you have my heart and that I love you to the moon and back.
Your eagerly awaiting lover,
Hermione Jean Granger
She tied the small roll of parchment and gave the owl a little bowl of water before looking at her as the black owl flew away. She then rushed to Harry's side and shook him. "Harry, Harry. He wrote to me, I got a letter for him. We are going to spend New Year's Eve together. I am so happy Harry." She said excitedly. "Merlin 'Mione can't you speak more quietly. Who wrote to you? Ron. What did he say?" he asked thinking that his best friend would finally come back. "Ron?! No Severus wrote to me. Severus wrote to me Harry. He knows about Godric's Hollow and he wants to see me on New Year's Eve." She saw Harry's smile disappear and began to scream. "WHY AREN'T YOU HAPPY FOR ME FOR ONCE HARRY. I DID EVERYTHING FOR YOU. I COULD HAVE PERFECTLY STAYED WITH HIM. BUT NO, I CHOSE TO COME BACK AND HELP YOU. YOU HARRY." Her hair frizzed with magic and Harry was suddenly afraid of her. "I'm sorry Hermione it's just that…" he began mumbling "No Harry! You have to accept the fact that I love him and that I have feelings for him. He isn't treating me as a little girl. No, I feel like I am worth something when he talks to me. I'm not just Harry's friend. I am Hermione and that's it. He actually loves me. Even if you can't see that I can. If you can't accept it then I think it is better for me to leave." She had said those words with so much passion that Harry finally understood. She was deeply truly in love with this man. Of course, he knew what it felt to finally exist as someone else than The Boy Who Lived. It was exactly what he was feeling when he was with Ginny. "I am sorry Hermione. I now understand it. If you want to go and see him. Go ahead. I will fight for you and him. If he is the one that makes you happy then I will support you in any way I possibly can." He had said with the softest tone he could. He sincerely was glad that Hermione had found someone to make her this happy.
They ate in silence a frugal breakfast before Hermione did a bit of cleaning in the tent while Harry tried to improve the comfort of it. He first decided to begin with the repairing of the bathroom equipment. They had a small shower stall and were always complaining about the fact that the water was always cold. Harry has read somewhere that a simple warming charm on the pipes could do the trick. When they both finished their tasks, they prepared a meal and ate it. The afternoon went by but wasn't eventful.
Harry was outside, laying by a tree. It was already night time and was about to get back inside when he saw a light in the distance. He still had Hermione's wand and raised it in the air ready to defend him and Hermione who was peacefully reading in the tent. He looked at the light and saw it approach him. As the light came nearer and nearer from him, he distinguished a shape. It looked like an otter. That's strange. Looks like Hermione's Patronus but I have her wand so she can't be able to cast a spell as complicated as this. He thought. He saw the otter com to a stop a few feet away. The otter nodded at him and began running out of the clearance and into the darkness of the forest. He followed the otter and a few moments later, the otter came to a stop.
Darkness surrounded them. Only the feeble light emanating from the silver spectrum of the otter lighted the surrounding ground. "Lumos!" he murmured as the tip of Hermione's wand lighted up with a bright glow. He looked towards where the otter had previously been but the animal had disappeared. Harry scanned the surrounding and saw where he was standing. He could feel the snow underneath his shoes. But he knew there was something else. He extended his wand arm and looked more carefully around him. A few feet away was a lake. It was frozen due to the extremely cold weather. Then a reflect caught his attention. It was a red reflect, he walked carefully on the frozen lake and stood above something with rubies encased in it. Gryffindor's wand! He exclaimed to himself.
He took Hermione's wand and pointed at the sword with it "Accio Sword" he tried but nothing happened. How was he supposed to get the sword out of the frozen lake? He asked himself. Then he had a stroke of genius. Once again, he pointed his wand at the lake before casting a diffindo charm. The ice cracked away and Harry could now access the blade. Although he would have to dive inside the freezing water to do so. He didn't think twice before diving feet first in the water. The cold numbed his members. He dove underneath the surface and reached for the sword.
When he went back onto the surface, he saw that someone had his wand pointed at him. "Blimey, Harry. You're mental. You know that. Diving in the water. Let me help you mate." With that Ron pulled Harry above the surface of the water and gave him back Hermione's wand. "Do you reckon it's legit? Have we really found Godric Gryffindor's sword Harry?" Ron asked. "There's only one way to find out. Ron I am going to open the locket and you stab it on the count of three. Alright?" he replied looking at Ron seriously. "Alright. You count." Ron grabbed the sword firmly in both of his hands while Harry place the locket on a flat stone. "One… Two… Three… open" a hiss came out of his mouth and Ron recognised it as Parseltongue. The second the locket was opened, Ron plunged the sword into the opened locket and was thrown to the ground. Harry rushed by his side and helped him to his feet. "Ron are you alright?" Harry asked. "Yeah, I'm alright Harry. Let's go inside. Is Hermione here?" he replied while Harry led him towards the tent after having picked up the locket and the sword.
As they entered the tent, Harry saw Hermione in her bed reading. "Hermione, I'm back." Harry said. Hermione looked up from her book and saw Ron. Her face went red with anger. She walked towards the both of them and after having pushed Harry aside gave a slap across Ron's cheek. "Blimey 'Mione. What was that for?!" he asked. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?! YOU LEFT US RON. YOU ABANDONED US! I THINK THIS REASON SUFFICES DON'T YOU?" she roared. "Look, Hermione, I am so sorry for leaving you and everything but I needed time to take it all in. I had to see my family too. I was so worried for them. I came back for you Hermione. I love you Hermione. I really do, but now I am back and…" he spoke with tears in his eyes. "Cut the shit Ron. If you loved me, you would have been there to protect me. There to stop Malfoy from raping me." She said "THIS BASTARD WILL GO TO HELL." He began before Hermione stopped him once more. "You weren't there Ron. Unlike Severus you weren't there when I needed someone by my side to help me. He healed me and showed me that he loved me. He was gentle with me and most important. I love him" She continued. "Wait. Severus as in Severus Snape the greasy git. Don't you tell me…" He stopped speaking refusing to say it. They couldn't be lovers. She was his student only a year ago. "Yes, Severus as in Severus Snape and I are together. I swear to Merlin if you call him once again greasy git you will regret it as you are placed under the worse Crucio curse. Understood?" She was protective as a lioness of her lover. "Alright. Alright. I guess I'll just go and sleep. I am really sleepy." He said defensively.
"Wait, could you just tell us how you found us?" This time it was Harry who had spoken. "The Deluminator Dumbledore left me. A few hours ago, I felt it heat up in my pocket and heard your voice. When I clicked it, a ball of light appeared and when I touched it I appeared a few yards away from the lake. I saw you getting out of the lake and then you know the rest." Ron explained calmly. "Now if you don't mind I am going to go and sleep. I am actually a bit weary. Good night Harry." He said. "Night 'Mione" he said mumbling. "Good night Ron."
When Ron was in his bunk, Hermione casted a Muffliato charm at him and began to speak. "He has some nerve. Showing up here and waiting for us to welcome him back like nothing has happened. Harry I am sorry. But if he had been here when Malfoy took your identity. I wouldn't have been raped." She broke into uncontrollable sobs and Harry held her. "Hermione shh, I'm here. Everything is going to be alright. Don't worry. It will never happen again. I promise you it won't. You need to be strong I know what it feels like but you need to be strong. For you, for me, for Ron and most importantly for Severus. When we left Hogwarts, I could see in his eyes all the love he had for you. In 6 days, you will see him again. For the moment, focus on that. With that, they both went to their bunks and went to sleep very quickly.